So the whole earth may know

Isaiah

“The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever”

(Isaiah 40:8)

Transiency is the normal way of life, yet nearly everything else around us and within us tries to pretend that this is not true. We want there to be something which lasts, something that in the end will not be tainted, tarnished or tired. And that is what we see at the beginning of this wonderful section of Isaiah; there is something which lasts. Continue reading →

Another four years has passed already bringing with it the beginning of the Olympic games and I for one love watching the competition. It is a great spectacle, whether we like sport or not, as we see all of the different nations of the world gathering together to compete. Some arrive with high expectations of winning medals, other come knowing that just to be there is a great honour. Continue reading →

Cherry blossoms are a big deal in Japan. As spring progresses there is expectation in the air. Many across the country are waiting to see the trees erupt into full bloom. People travel the length and breadth of Japan for the simple purpose of getting the chance to soak up the wonder of nature. There is even a cherry blossom forecast estimating which date is likely to be the best for witnessing the spectacle. Continue reading →

Every Monday I hope to make this a regular slot where we can bring mission to the front of our minds.

To get us started here is a short article I was asked to write reflecting on some of the simple difficulties of cross cultural work which we saw in S.E.Asia.

Picture the scene with me. After a long days work in the heat of Thailand all you want is a nice drink. Patiently you wait for your order of earl grey tea to arrive only to discover that what you have instead is a green tea latte. Disappointment and frustration quickly take over and you begin to ask “why am I even here? I know how to get tea in Britain”. It all seems so futile because you can’t even order a cup of the earl’s finest. Continue reading →